Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi announced on August 31, 2026, his decision to retire from the Argentina national team following their silver-medal finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Photo: Lionel Messi/Instagram
Through a note posted on his Instagram account, the 39-year-old forward thanked fans for supporting him and the national team throughout his career. Messi noted at the bottom of the post that he had originally penned the letter on July 21—two days after Argentina’s 1–0 extra-time loss to Spain in the World Cup final—and confirmed his choice following the death of his father, Jorge, earlier in the month.
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“It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts deep down—but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave my all, not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” Messi wrote.
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“Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad—especially the bad),” the legend added.
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Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in a single calendar year, with 91 goals in 2012.
Since beginning his professional career in 2004, the 5-foot-7 forward has earned 46 trophies—including four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona and two Copa América titles with Argentina.
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Messi previously led the Argentine national team to its third World Cup trophy in 2022, defeating France in a dramatic final in Qatar. During that 2022 campaign, he became the first player in history to score in every round of a single World Cup (group stage, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final), tallying seven goals.
Messi also received the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player at Qatar 2022, making him the only player to win the accolade twice, having first won it at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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While stepping away from international duty, Messi will continue his club career in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami CF, having signed a contract extension through the 2028 season.
“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you—alongside my teammates—moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!” Messi said.
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